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Review

2005
Chevrolet
Colorado Review

Family-friendly truck with a very smooth ride.

Reviewed by Automotive on
6/26/2005

Overview

The Chevrolet Colorado was introduced in 2004 as the replacement of the S10. Even though it is categorized as a compact truck, it is actually very roomy. The base and up-level trims have a choice of regular and extended cab. The LS trim has an optional Crew Cab. The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is more suited for personal projects or light duty. There are only three models, but as usual with Chevrolet, there are numerous trims, packages, and different cabs to consider when choosing the right one.

What's New

The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is only in its second year of production, therefore there are no significant changes. However, it has some noteworthy changes from its predecessor, the S10. One is the increased interior space. The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is one inch wider, two inches longer, and the wheelbase is three inches longer. That doesn’t sound like much, but it certainly feels more spacious when sitting inside. One of the main objectives for the increased size is to increase the comfort. Owners use their trucks for much more than usual trucking these days. They are also used for the entire family and therefore need space and comfort for things like vacations. The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado gives up a little room in the bed for increased cab space. It also gives up some towing capacity in exchange for a smoother ride. The 4000 pounds of towing capacity is more than enough to take care of dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, or light boats.

Exterior

The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is an eye-catching truck with a chrome horizontal-bar grille and multi-lens headlights. On models with fog lights, the lights are inset into the bumper. It has angular and aggressive fender bulges. Although the crew cab is longer, the Colorado still has a balanced, clean, and modern look. It also has reach-through door handles, which not only look good, but also allow for easier opening. The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado offers numerous accessories, such as a bed extender, tubular assist steps, and splash guards.

Interior

The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado’s interior has a lot of hard plastic that is tough and durable. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and cushioned well, while the wide bucket seats are soft, but both the cloth and leather versions of the seats lack lateral support. Convenience features include map pockets in each door that are contoured to fit a bottle or can, the center arm rest opens up to provide storage space.

The truck has cup holders in various sizes. The instrument panel has the traditional white on black with orange needles, and the controls are laid out in a logical manner. While not standard, nice options include the electrochromic option, which has an auto dimming rearview mirror, a compass, outside temperature display, and map lights.

The rear seat is very comfortable, especially in the crew cab. The seats provide a decent amount of leg room, good height, and they recline just enough to make them more comfortable. The extended cab is only suitable for a child to sit in, and even then, not for a long distance. That area is more suited for cargo storage.

Performance & Handling

The 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine when paired with the five-speed manual transmission has adequate acceleration, but it’s not great. By giving up some towing capacity, the ride is smoother. The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado can handle uneven road conditions without bouncing around. The base models come standard with a 175 horsepower, four-cylinder engine with an optional 220 horsepower inline five-cylinder, and there is an option of a manual or automatic transmission.

Safety

The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado is loaded with safety features, including a four-wheel anti-lock braking system, front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, daytime running lights, engine immobilizer, auto delay off headlights, dusk sensing headlights, passenger airbag deactivation, and electronic brake-force. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado decent ratings with five out five stars for passenger protection, four out of five stars for driver protection, four out of five stars for side-impact front protection, and four out of five stars for rollover protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ratings for frontal offset test is ""good,"" ""marginal"" for roof strength test, and ""good"" for rear crash protection/head restraint.